Winch



Sept. 27, 1960 Filed April 9, 1956 F. J. LUKETA WINCH fi m,

5 Shgets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRANK J LUKETA 22y of Sept. 27, 1960 FiledApril 9, 1956 F. J. LUKETA WINCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FRANK d?LUKETA A 7' TOENEVS' Sept. 27, 196 F. J. LU KETA WINCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed April 9, 1956 IN VEN TOR. FRANK J w/ HA P 1960 F. J. LUKETA2,954,209

WINCH Filed April 9, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 a Ha.

INVENTOR. FRANK J LUKETA A rroe/veya" P 1960 F. .1. LUKE TA 2,954,209

WINCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 9, 1956 a 755 75a 75' 9 u a vINVENTOR. FRANK J ZOE/5774 WINCH Frank J. Luketa, 5567 Greenwood Ave,Seattle, Wash. Filed Apr. 9, 1956, Ser. No. 576,941

14 Claims. (Cl. 254-185) This invention relates to a winch having aplurality of drums, together with means for driving any one or any pairof drums, or indeed any number or all thereof, either from a singlevariably driven motor means or from both of two motor means, all to theend that the drive of any drum or set of drums can be accomplished in awholly flexible manner, with regard to the power available forapplication to the drum, and with regard to the number of drums and therelative speed thereof during operation, at any given time.

The winch of this invention is capable of use in any of variouscircumstances where a multiple drum Winch is desired (for instance, inlogging operations), but it has been particularly designed for use inconnection with the Trawl Net Hauling Gear shown in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 570,771, filed March 12, 1956. It is to beunderstood, however, that no restriction to such use is intendedthereby.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a multipledrum winch of the character generally indicated above, so constructedand arranged that the winch as a Whole will occupy a minimum of space,since deck space is limited on a trawler, and, in addition to providesuch a winch in which all controls are located, preferably, adjacent asingle control station at an end of the winch, whereby from that stationa single operator can control the number of motors connected to any drumor drums of the winch, can control which drum or drums are energized,can hold any given drum or drums, eXcept possibly one, positively fromreverse rotation or paying out, and can control the speed and powerapplicable to the driven drum or drums. One reason for desiring suchcontrol from a single control station and by a single operator is thatthe number in the crew of a trawler, such as this winch is designed for,is always small and it is desirable that as many crew members aspossible be available for jobs in handling the net itself and the linesrunning to the net, and the catch, rather than be concerned with theoperation of the winch.

The winch of this invention, speaking generally, comprises a driveshaft, which preferably is hollow so that certain push-pull clutchcontrol rods may extend through it, and which preferably is made in twoseparate halves, each capable of being driven by its own independentmotor means, and capable also of being interconnected so that the driveshaft as a whole may be driven from the two motor means conjointly, orby either motor means. Iournaled upon the drive shaft are several drums.These would include usually a common drum, which is designatedhereinafter a first drum, which is journaled in part upon one of theshaft halves and in part upon the other shaft half, and which can bedriven from one of those shaft halves through clutch means, or from thetwo interconnected shaft halves. At least one other drum, and usuallytwo, are journaled upon each shaft half, in addition to the first drum,mentioned above, and each is driven from the corresponding shaft halfthrough clutch means. The several clutch means, including the clutchmeans for interconnecting the two shaft halves, are controllable bypush-pull rods which extend through the hollow shaft, from a controlstation to the shiftable clutch plate of the individual clutch means.Certain novel clutch-actuating mechanism is associated with eachpushpull rod. Each clutch means is preferably located within a hollowhub of its drum, thereby lessening the axial length of the winch, as awhole, yet without materially increasing the diameter of the winch.Ratchet mechanism is provided for holding each of the drums, exceptperhaps the common first drum, against retrograde rotation, and theseratchet means are controllable also from the control station bymechanism which is, in itself, novel. The controls for energization ofthe two motor means are also located at the same control station, thesemotor means being preferably hydraulic motors of the infinitely variablespeed type, so that the control means may be in the nature of valves ortiltable plates. The several controls, where there are like controls foreach of several drums, are arranged in the order of succession of thedrums, whereby the operator is unlikely to become confused and operatethe wrong control, and this requires certain special mechanicalarrangements to connect between the control handles, or the like, andthe parts controlled.

All these and other details will appear more fully here'- inafter asthis specification progresses, and can be ascertained from theaccompanying drawings, wherein the invention is illustrated in apresently preferred form. The features of novelty in which the presentinvention resides will be brought out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is, in part, a plan view and, in part, an axial section throughthe control end of the Winch, and Figure 2 is a similar view, showingthe opposite end of the winch.

Figure 3 is an end elevation from the control end, with parts brokenaway to illustrate in particular the motor means at the one end.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view, substantially on the line 4-4of Figure 1, through an intermediate part of the winch.

Figure 5 is an enlarged axial sectional view of the clutch selecting andoperating mechanism at the control end of the winch.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view at the line 6-6 of Figure 5.Figure 7 is an axial sectional view of a rotatable head associated witha single push-pull rod, and Figure 7a is a sectional view thereof at theline 7a-7a of Figure 7.

Figure 8 is, in part, an elevation and, in part, a sectional view on avertical plane axially of the locking dog controlling mechanism. Thesectional plane is indicated generally by the line 38 in Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional View through one of the controllevers for a locking dog.

Figure 1'0 is a sectional view substantially as indicated at 19-i inFigure ii, and Figure 11 is a sectional view substantially on the lineill-11 of Figure 10, illustrating further details of the locking dogmechanism.

Because of the length of the winch and the small size ofthe detailswhich are assembled compactly within the winch, it is not feasible toshow the winch as a whole in a single view, but Figures 1 and 2. areviews which slightly overlap at the central portion, and which show therespectively opposite ends of the Winch. Figure 1 shows the control end,and Figure 2, the opposite end. Such a winch includes a drive shaft,referred to as a whole by the numeral 1, but which normally is made intwo axially aligned, but separate, halves, designated to distinguishthem In and 1b. For reasons which will appear shortly, this compositedrive shaft 1 is hollow. Each half is separately journaled in frameelements 9 and 90, 91 and 92, respectively, and these are all connectedrigidly by transverse frame members 93 and 94. Each drive shaft halfcarries a sprocket gear 96a, or 96b; a driving sprocket 97a, and asimilar one, not shown, at the opposite end journaled in the framemember (for instance, in the tubular frame member 94), is driven througha drive chain 95a or 95b'from its individual motor means such as 98a,and a similar motor member at the opposite end 9817. Preferably, themotor means are brakeable, reversible hydraulic motors of the tiltingplate or infinitely variable speed type, and are controllable from acontrol station by the respective control handles 99a and 99b.

By such means, the control shaft or either of its halves is capable ofrotation at any desired speed and with any gradation of power,independently of the other half or conjointly therewith, or in oppositedirections.

Since there are times when it is desirable to connect the two motormeans to the shaft 1 in common, so that both may be employed forrotating the shaft, clutch means are provided for this purpose, locatedwhere the aligned ends of the shaft halves, 1a and 1b, abut, andconsisting, for example, of a clutch plate 41b fast to the shaft half1b, and a clutch plate 41a keyed to rotate with the shaft half 1a andcapable of sliding axially along the shaft half 1a into and fromengagement with the clutch plate 41b. The two clutch plates may be dogclutch elements, and this is the preferred arrangement. The mechanismfor shifting the clutch plate 41a will be explained hereinafter.

A drum, generally designated by the numeral 2, will be designatedhereinafter as the common drum or the first drum, and is journaled uponthe drive shaft, one end of the drum 2 being journaled at 20a upon theshaft half 1a, and the other half being journaled upon the shaft half 1bin similar manner, although it is not illustrated in detail. Thesebearings for the first drum 2 are located, it will be noticed, closelyadjacent the frame elements 90 and 92 in which the shaft halves, 1a and1b, respectively, are themselves journaled.

Preferably, the drum 2, like the other drums to be described later, isformed with a hollow hub 21, and opposite flanges 22. The hollow hub 21is spaced radially outwardly from the shaft sufficiently to leave anannular tunnel between them, within which tunnel are located the clutchelements 41a and 41b previously referred to, and other clutch elementswhich will shortly be described.

In addition to the drum 2, at least one other drum (and in the winchshown there are two others), is journaled upon each shaft half. Thus,the drums 5a and 3a in succession are journaled upon the shaft half 1aoutwardly of the first drum 2, and the drums 5b and 3b are journaledupon the shaft half 1b. In most respects, the construction and mountingof these drums are similar to the construction and mounting of the drum2. Each has an enlarged hollow hub which houses certain clutch elementsto be referred to shortly. Differing from the drum 2', however, each ofthe drums 3a, 3b, 5a and 5b is provided with a series ofcircumferentially arranged ratchet teeth 36a, 50a, 30b, and 50b forengagement with certain ratchet locking dogs which will be describedlater. The drum 2 runs freely but its rotation is braked by a brake shoe23, spring-pressed by the spring arm 23a against a flange of the'drum.This, however, is a matter of choice and convenience, and the drum 2 aswell as the other drums might be positively controlled and locked inrotated position by a locking dog such as that to be described, whichcontrols the other drums.

Since each of the drums is journaled freely upon the drive shaft 1, itis necessary to clutch each one to the shaft when that drum is to berotated positively. Referring to the drum 3a, which is typical of allthe others, a pair of clutch elements is provided, one of the pair beingconnected to the drum and the other to the driving shaft 1. Thus, theclutch plate 31a is connected to the drum 3, and the clutch plate 13a iskeyed to rotate with the shaft half 1a and to slide therealong. Similarpairs of clutch elements, designated 35a and 15a for the drum 5a; 31band 13b for the drum 3b; and 35b and 15b for the drum 5b, are arrangedto engage and to disengage, to effect or to discontinue rotation of thecorresponding drums. All such clutch elements are located within theannular tunnel between the hollow hub of the corresponding drum and thedrive shaft which extends through that hollow hub.

In addition, and for the purpose of driving the drum 2, a clutch element12 is mounted to rotate with and to slide lengthwise of the shaft halfIt: and to engage with a complemental clutch plate 25 fast to the hub ofthe drum 2. The shaft 1 is splined for keying interengagement with theseshiftable clutch plates.

Each shiftable clutch plate of the six pairs described is movable by itsindividual push-pull rod which extends through the hollow shaft 1 fromthe control station shown at the left in Figure l. The movement of theclutch element might be effected by servo means, but for simplicity anddirectness the use of the push-pull rods is preferred.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 best show such a push-pull rod and the manner of itsconnection and operation for shifting of the clutch plate 13a into andfrom engagement with the complemental clutch plate 31a, for rotation ofthe drum 3a. Here, a rod 61 extends through a transverse end plate 16,which is fast to the end of the shaft half in, and may be guided also at17 within the hollow shaft 1a. At its inner end the rod 61 is providedwith an outturned toe 62, which extends through a slot 18 in the hollowshaft, to engage with the shiftable clutch plate 13a. The push-pull rod61 is provided with a head 6 exteriorly of the transverse plate 16,which head includes also a sleeve and is rotatable with relation to theremainder of the rod 61. This head carries a key, 60 which is rotatablewith the head, and which cooperates with a keyhole slot 19 in thetransverse plate 16, so that when the key 60 is at the exterior face ofthe plate 16 and out of registry with the keyhole 19, the push-pull rodis locked in its outward position, whereas when the key 60 is rotatedinto registry with the keyhole slot 19, the rod may be pushed through,and then by rotation of the key out of registry with the keyhole slot 19and into engagement with the inner face of the plate 16, the push-pullrod is locked in its inward position. It is so locked in Figure 5, andin consequence the shiftable clutch plate has been shifted from the dashline position of that figure into the full line position thereof, inwhich latter position the clutch plates 13a and 31a are engaged.

The head 6 is urged rotatively into a position wherein the key 60 is outof engagement with the keyhole slot 19. To this end a spiral spring 63is connected at one end to the head 6 and at its other end to a plug 64-which is non-rotatively engaged at 65 with the non-rotative push-pullrod 61. The outer end of the rod 6 1 is recessed, as indicated at 66, toenable axial movement, during assembly, of the inner end of the key 60with relation to the rod. The rod 61 is also transversely slotted at 67to cooperate with the inner end of key 60 to the end that positive stopsare provided at each end of the thus limited range of movement of sleeve6, so that when the headed sleeve 6 is manually rotated clockwise it isstopped automatically in registry with keyhole slot 19. Parts are heldin their engaged position by the cap or plug 64 and the screw 68 whichpasses through this cap and into the outer end of the push-pull rod 61,as shown in Figure 7.

Each of the push-pull rods is similarly controlled and shiftable, andcapable of being locked in either the clutch-engaged or theclutch-disengaged position. Just as the rod 61 controls the clutchelements for the drum 3a, the rod 61a controls the clutch elements 15aand 35a for the drum 5a, the rod 61b controls the clutch elements 12 and25 for rotation of the first drum 2, the rod 610 controls the engagementof the clutch elements 41a and 41b for interconnection of the shafthalves la and'lb; the rod 61d controls the engagement. of the clutchelements 15b and.35b for the drum b, and the push-pull rod 61e controlsthe clutch elements 13b and 31b for the drum 3b.

It will be noted that. the push-pull rods. 61d and 61e which control theclutch elements for the drumsSb and 3b, located at the end of the winchthat is distant from the control station, extend through a tubular core15 which is mounted axially within the shaft 1, whereas the other fourpush-pull rods are located externally of the core 15, although stillwithin the hollow shaft. The core 15, at the control station end, has acap 151 secured by a screw 152 threaded into a cross bar 153, fast tothe core 15, and is journaled at 154 within the end of'the shaft half1a. At the distant end core 15 is. fast to a cap 155 which is also fastto shaft half 11;; see Figure 2. It follows that core 15 rotates (orremains non-rotative) in accordance with rotation (or non-rotation) ofshaft half 1b, whereas shaft half 1a may at the same time be rotating orstationary, or may even be rotating in the reverse sense. The rods 61,61a, 61b, and 610 necessarily conform, as to rotation, to the shaft half1a, through the end plate 16 whereof they protrude. If the rods 61d and61a merely protruded likewise through the plate 16, any disconformitybetween the rotation of shaft halves 1a and 1b would twist off the rods61d and 612, but by thus freeing the rods 61d and 61e from any necessityto rotate in conformity with shaft half 1a, and requiring their rotationonly in conjunction with shaft half 1b, to clutch elements whereon theserods 61c and 61d pertain, any such difiiculty is avoided.

It is preferred that the various heads for the pushpull rods be housedwithin a sleeve 9a which is mounted upon the frame element 9, and itwill be noted that each of them bears a distinctive marking so that theoperator can identify the individual rods by feel as well as by sight,for they revolve with the respective halves of the shaft 1, as justexplained. Located within the sleeve a they are protected from injuryand from accidental operation.

The tubular frame member 93 furnishes a convenient means for housingcertain locking mechanism for holding the individual drums, other thanthe first drum 2, in an attained position against retrograde rotation.These several drums, it will be remembered, are provided with thecircumferentially arranged ratchet teeth a, 50a, 50b, and 301;,respectively. Preferably, these teeth are ratchet teeth, that is to say,they will permit or cause a springheld dog to yield upon rotation onesense, but the dog will lock against rotation in the reverse sense. Aratchet dog 7 is shown in Figures 9 and 10* in engagement with theratchet teeth 30a of the drum 3a. This dog is formed at an end of aslide 70, which is guidedat 79 in the frame, and which is longitudinallybored for the reception of a compression spring 71. This spring,reacting between the bottom of the bore and the side of the tubularmember 93, or a closure cap 93a, which is opposite the dog 7, urges thedog yieldingly toward engaged position with respect to the ratchet teeth30a. A pin 72 projecting laterally from the slide 70, is in position forengagement by a nose 73 of a control lever mechanism, which includes thelever 74 and its handle 75, which are pivotally mounted at 76 within thetubular frame member 93. The handle 75 is movable lengthwise of thelever 74 as well as oscillatably with the latter, to engage the dog 175within one or the other of two holes 77a. in an arcuate plate '77, andto disengage the same, whereby to hold the handle 75 in one or the otherof the full line or the dash line positions shown in Figure 9. In thefull line position, the nose 73 permits the pin 72, and hence thecorrespondingly slide 70' and dog 7, to be urged radially inwardly underthe influence of its spring 71 into engagement with the ratchet H teeth30a of the drum. In the dash line. positioncf the handle shown in Figure9, the dog 7 is pulled radially outwardly to disengage the dog from theteeth 30a, and so to free the drum 3a for rotation. Even when locked,however, the drum 3a may rotate in one sense by pushing the ratchet dog7 inwardly in opposition to its spring 71.

By similar arrangement, each of the handles a, 75b, and 75c controls thelocking of the corresponding dogs for the respective drums 5a, 5b, and3b, respectively. It

will be noted in Figure 8 that the successive positions of the severallocking handles 75, 75a, 75b and 750 corresponds to the successivepositions of the drums which each such handle controls.

When all the clutch plates are disengaged, the several handles 6 of theindividual push-pull rods Will be in their leftward position, as seen inFigures 1 and 6 for instance. Normally at such times the handles 75,75a, etc., would. be in their locked positions, and this would beclearly indicated by their position. When it is desired to reel in onany individual drum, for instance the drum 3a, the dog 7 of that drumwould be released and the clutch plates 13a and 31a of that drum wouldbe engaged by pushing inward the corresponding push-pull rod 61 as isindicated in Figure 5. This clutch engagement would normally beaccomplished before rotation-- of the drum had been commenced, and couldbe accomplished while the locking dog 7 for this drum is still inengagement but the motor means 98a is still deenergized. Now, uponenergization of the motor means 98a. and disengagement of the dog 7 thedrum 3a is reeled in, byvirtue of its clutch connection 'to the drivingshaft half 1a. It is not necessary that the corresponding but oppositedrum 3b be reeled in at the same time, but ordinarily this Would bedesirable, and can be accomplished by corresponding operation of thecontrols for the drum 3b andenergi-zation of the corresponding motormeans at the opposite end of the winch or indeed by the same motor. Themotor controls, as previously indicated, are at 99a and 99b at thesingle control station. During this rotation of the two drums 3a and 3bconjointly, it is not necessary that the two shaft halves, 1a and 1b, beinterconnected. If, however, there is an especially hard pull upon asingle drum for example, or if precise synchronization of the drums 3aand 3b is desired, it is possible to interconnect the two shaft halves1a and 1b by interengaging the clutch plates 41a and 41b throughmanipulation of the corresponding push-pull rod. 610. Thereupon bothmotor means are connected for driving any one or all of the drums whichare clutched to the shaft 1, andall clutched drums are rotated alike.

In similar fashion, each of the drums 5a and 5b may be driven eitherfrom the respective shaft halves 1a and lb, or conjointly from the shaft1 with the clutch plates 41a and 41b interconnected. Finally, the firstdrum 2, which is common to the two driving shaft halves 1a and 1b can bedriven from the motor means 98a through the shaft 1a and the clutchelements 12 and 25 alone, or by the other motor means 98b or. by bothmotor means. The drag placed upon the drum 2 by the friction shoe 23 isinconsiderable, and it hasv not been found necessary to relieve thisdrag when the drum is positively rotated by the respective or theindividual. motor means.

Having attained a given reeled-in position, any of the drums 3a, 5a, 5bor 3b may be locked in that. position by re-engagement of the respectiveratchet dogs 7 with the corresponding serrated or toothed flange of thecorresponding d-rum. The first drum 2, on the other hand, would be heldin position normally under the influence of the motor means at 98a orthe companion motor means at 98b, or, when there is no strain on thedrum, by the friction shoe at 23 under the influence of its springmounting arm 23a.

The winch according to the present invention thus combines, in a highdegree flexibility as to applicable power, and individual drums whichcan be individually A of two separate, axially aligned halves, twoseparate motor means each operatively connected to its correspondingshaft half and independently energizable to rotate the latter in thesame rotative sense, a first drum journaled in part upon one shaft halfand in part upon the other, at least one additionaldrum journaled whollyupon each of the shaft halves, clutch means for operatively connectingeach of the latter drums with and disconnecting it from thecorresponding shaft half, clutch means for operatively connecting saidfirst drum to and disconnecting it from one, only, of the shaft halveswhere on it is journaled, and clutch means for operativelyinterconnecting the two shaft halves for conjoint rotation by the twomotor means, and for disconnecting them for independent rotation, eachby its corresponding motor means.

2. A winch as in claim 1, wherein the drive shaft is hollow, and theseveral clutch elements each includes a clutch plate shiftable axiallyrelative to a paired clutch plate, the winch including also push-pullrods extending through the hollow shaft from a control station at theend of the winch each to its shiftable clutch plate, for shifting thelatter.

3. A winch as in claim 2, including a transverse plate fixed to thedrive shaft at the control station, and keyhole-apertured for passage ofcertain push-pull rods, each such rod having a relatively rotatable headand a key thereon for passage through the keyhole aperture, by rotationof the key from registry with the keyhole aperture to retain the rod ineither of two axially shifted positions, corresponding to clutch-engagedand clutchdisengaged positions, respectively.

4. A winch as in claim 2, including also a tubular core coaxial with,spaced from, and extending through the hollow shaft, means connectingsaid core to the shaft half which is distant from the control station,for conjoint rotation with said distant shaft half, journal meansinterposed between said core and the shaft half which is at the controlstation end, for relative rotation of the last-mentioned shaft half andthe core, such push-pull rods as control clutch means which include aclutch plate upon the distant shaft half extending through and beingguided in said core, and all other push-pull rods being located in thespace intermediate the shaft half which is nearer the control stationend and said core, and being guided in that shaft half.

5. A winch as in claim 4, including a transverse annular plate fixed tothe shaft at the control station end, a cap fixed to the end of the coreat the control station end, each of the plate and cap being keyholeapertured for passage and guidance of the respective push-pull rods,each such rod having a relatively rotatable head located externally ofthe plate or cap as the case may be, and a key on each head for passagethrough the keyhole aperture, by rotation of the key into registry withthe keyhole aperture to enable axial movement of the corresponding headand its key, until the key passes through its plate or cap, and then byrotation of the key out of registry with the keyhole aperture to retainthe rod in 'either of two axially shifted positions, corresponding toclutch-engaged and clutch-disengaged positions, respectively.

6. A winch as in claim 1, wherein the several drums include hollow hubsspaced from the drive shaft, and the clutch means are disposed withinthe respective hollow hubs, the clutch means for interconnecting the twoshaft halves being disposed within the first drum.

7. A winch as in claim 1, wherein the drive shaft is hollow, and whereinthe several drums are formed with 8 hollow hubs spaced from the driveshaft to define an annular tunnel, the several clutch means beinglocated within such annular tunnel, and each including an axiallyshiftable clutch plate, and push-pull rods extending through the hollowdrive shaft from a control station at the end of the winch, and throughthe drive shaft at each rods inner end for connection each to itsshiftable clutch plate.

8. A winch as in claim 1, wherein each drum that is journaled whollyupon a single shaft half is formed with ratchet teeth circumferentiallyarranged, a dog fixedly position for engagement with the teeth of eachsuch drum, and means at a control station to shift each dog into andfrom engaged position, and to retain the dog in either shifted position.

9. A winch as in claim 8, and a friction brake engaged with the firstdrum, as a drag thereon.

10. In a winch, in combination, a hollow drive shaft, motor means torotate said drive shaft, a plurality of drums journaled upon said driveshaft, clutch means for operatively connecting certain of said drumswith and disconnecting each thereof from said drive shaft, including aclutch plate fixed to the drum and a complemental clutch plate keyed torotate with and slidable axially along said shaft, a push-pull rodextending through the hollow shaft from each axially shiftable clutchplate to a control station at the end ofthe winch, a transverse plateupon the latter end of the shaft, keyhole-apertured for passage ofcertain push-pull rods, a head rotatably mounted upon the outer end ofeach such rod, a key projecting radially from and rotatable with eachhead, for passage through its keyhole aperture and for rotationthereafter into retaining engagement with either face of said transverseplate, spring means operatively connected to each head to urge thelatter and its key into such retaining position, and a toe outturned atthe inner end of each push pull rod for engagement with its axiallyslidable clutch plate, the hollow shaft being slotted axially forprotrusion and shifting of said toe.

11. In a winch, in combination, a hollow drive shaft, motor means forrotating said drive shaft, a plurality of drums journaled upon saiddrive shaft, clutch means for operatively connecting certain of saiddrums with and disconnecting each thereof from said drive shaft,including an axially shiftable clutch element keyed to rotate with theshaft, a push-pull rod extending through the hollow shaft from eachaxially shiftable clutch element to a control station at an end of thewinch, a closure secured upon the end of the shaft at the controlstation, and keyhole apertured for passage of the respective rods, ahead rotatively mounted upon each rod externally of said closure, springmeans interposed between each rod and its head to urge the head in agiven rotative sense, a key projecting internally and externally of eachhead, and of a size to pass through its keyhole aperture when inregistry therewith, and being spring-urged from such registry, the rodbeing slotted transversely, in registry with the internal projection ofsaid key, to limit the spring-urged rotative movement of the key andhead, and to retain the key in position to contact one face or the otherof the closure, so to retain the rod in a clutch-engaged orclutch-disengaged position.

12. In a winch, in combination, a hollow drive shaft, motor meansoperatively connected to said shaft for driving the same, a plurality ofdrums journaled thereon, pairs of complemental clutch elements disposedwithin the hollow drive shaft and in each pair fixed respectively tosaid shaft and to the corresponding one of said drums, clutch controldevices located beyond an end of said hollow shaft, and means extendingthrough said hollow shaft and operatively connecting each clutch controldevice to a clutch element of each pair, to connect or disconnect suchelements, and so to drive any selected drum or drums from said driveshaft.

13. A winch as in claim 12, including separate first and second'motormeans, said clutch elements including further elements also disposedwithin the hollow shaft 9' and arranged for driving connection of eitheror both said motor means to the driving shaft, and the operativeconnections between each control device and all said clutch elementsextending through the hollow shaft.

14. In a winch, in combination, a drive shaft formed of two separate,axially aligned halves, two separate motor means each operativelyconnected to its corresponding shaft half and independently energizableto rotate the latter, a plurality of drums, some whereof are journaledupon one shaft half and some whereof are journaled upon the other half,clutch means for operatively connecting each such drum with anddisconnecting it from the corresponding shaft half, clutch means for 10operatively interconnecting the two shaft halves for conjoint rotationby the two motor means, and for disconnecting them for independentrotation, each by its corresponding motor means, and control means forclutching and declutching each of said clutch means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS977,498 Bailey Dec. 6, 1910 2,505,946 Dath May 2, 1950 2,522,881 Lindneret al Sept. 19, 1950 2,635,851 Maier Apr. 21, 1953 2,705,126 AddicksMar. 29, 1955

